Following the revocation of protections for Venezuelans, the Trump administration has now announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nationals of Afghanistan and Cameroon living in the United States.
The decision was made public by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as part of the administration’s increasingly hardline immigration policy.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that both countries no longer meet the legal requirements for TPS eligibility. Protection for Afghan nationals officially ended on March 21, and for Cameroonians on April 7, following evaluations by DHS officials, according to a spokesperson cited by Scripps News.
TPS is a humanitarian program that allows individuals from countries experiencing armed conflict or natural disasters to remain in the U.S. and avoid deportation. Afghanistan was granted TPS in 2022 after the withdrawal of U.S. forces and the Taliban’s takeover. The program was extended in 2023 due to continued security threats, human rights violations, and worsening humanitarian conditions.
However, the current administration claims the situation no longer warrants protection. This decision has sparked concern among human rights and refugee advocacy groups.
Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, President of Global Refuge, strongly condemned the move:
“Ending these protections is a betrayal of those who risked their lives to support the United States in times of war,” she said. “Afghanistan remains mired in instability, repression, poverty, and the collapse of basic services,” she added in comments to Scripps News.
Notices sent to affected individuals state they have seven days to leave the country or face deportation proceedings, unless they obtain a change in their legal status.
Afghan refugee aid groups also responded sharply. Shawn VanDiver, head of the AfghanEvac coalition, argued that the decision was punitive rather than based on reality:
“Nothing has changed on the ground. Saying otherwise is political fiction,” he said, calling the measure “cruel” and “against American values.”
The Trump administration has also moved to shorten the TPS extension period for Haitian nationals. A decision on whether to renew the program for Haitians is expected in early June. However, the outlook appears grim, as the president has already announced his intention to terminate TPS for Haitians.
Still, there is a strong possibility that the revocation of TPS for Afghans and Cameroonians could be blocked in court. A federal judge in California recently halted the termination of protections for Venezuelans. Legal action has also been filed on behalf of Haitian beneficiaries, creating a potentially significant legal roadblock.
